UCLA Anderson Receives $25 Million Gift from John E. and Marion Anderson

The largest gift in the school's 75-year history will bolster innovative academic programs, student support and faculty research

LOS ANGELES -- The UCLA Anderson School of Management today announced a $25 million gift - the largest in the school's history - from longtime supporters John E. and Marion Anderson.

This gift extends the Andersons' legacy of philanthropy to the school. In recognition of their first gift, the school was named the John E. Anderson Graduate School of Management at UCLA in 1987. The current gift brings to nearly $42 million the amount the Andersons have donated to the school.

"We are immensely grateful for this tremendously generous gift from John and Marion Anderson," said UCLA Chancellor Gene Block. "John received the highest honor bestowed by UCLA, the UCLA Medal, in 1995 for his extraordinary contributions to his profession and our society. It is clear that for John and Marion, this was only the beginning. Their lifelong philanthropy will have an indelible impact on our campus - and the opportunities we provide for our outstanding faculty and students - for generations to come."

The Anderson family history bears many connections to UCLA. John received his bachelor's degree in business administration from UCLA in 1940. John and Marion's sons, William and John Jr., completed their J.D. and M.B.A. degrees, respectively, at UCLA, and their daughter, Judy Munzig, serves on the board of the Harold and Pauline Price Center for Entrepreneurial Studies at UCLA Anderson.

"Our legacy, built over 75 years, owes a lot to John and Marion Anderson's leadership and longtime support," said UCLA Anderson dean Judy Olian. "They share with us a bold vision for the future of UCLA Anderson as one of the most innovative and recognized schools of management in the world. This remarkable gift will enable us to chart that future by investing in a broad range of strategic initiatives, including research that advances management thinking and practice, curriculum initiatives that prepare our students to become global leaders, and student support that attracts the most talented candidates from around the world. I cannot express the depth of my gratitude to John and Marion - the gift demonstrates their confidence in our bright future, which both inspires and challenges us."

"I was very lucky to come to UCLA on a scholarship, and I've never forgotten that," John Anderson said. "The lessons and values I learned while attending UCLA shaped my thinking throughout my business and community life and helped build my business reputation. Giving back to the school is my way of enabling future generations to have the kind of opportunities that UCLA offered me. It is simply doing the right thing."

Added Marion Anderson: "This gift gives us tremendous pleasure. John and I have derived great satisfaction from following the achievements of the school and its alumni over the years and the breadth of impact they have had on businesses and communities, not just in California and the U.S. but also around the world. The school has meant so much to both of us, and it is particularly gratifying to be able to provide this support during these times of special need for public higher education."

In addition to the current gift and the naming gift to the business school, the Andersons' philanthropy has supported the dean's John E. Anderson Chair in Management, as well as the Marion Anderson Chair in Management and the Marion Anderson Courtyard.

John Anderson is a current member and past chairman of the UCLA Anderson board of visitors. After he graduated from UCLA, he received an M.B.A. from the Harvard Graduate School of Business and a law degree from the Loyola University School of Law in Los Angeles. He is currently president of Topa Equities Ltd., which owns more than 42 businesses involved in agriculture, insurance, real estate, wholesale beverage distribution and automotive dealerships. He is past chairman of the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles, a trustee and former president of St. John's Hospital and Health Center Foundation, and a trustee of Claremont McKenna College. In 1995, he was presented with the UCLA Medal, and in 2002, he was the first recipient of the Distinguished Alumnus Award at UCLA Anderson. He was named Southern California Entrepreneur of the Year in 1987, Outstanding Individual Philanthropist on National Philanthropy Day in 1988, Master Entrepreneur of the Year in 2002 and Business Person of the Year by the Business Hall of Fame in 2003.

Marion Anderson is vice chairman of Topa Equities Ltd. and is an active member of the UCLA Anderson board of visitors. She is co-chair of the Children's Hospital Los Angeles board of trustees and of Living Proof: the Campaign for Children's Hospital Los Angeles. She has served on the hospital's board of trustees since 1989 and has guided the hospital through its most successful fundraising effort ever, helping raise nearly $1 billion to support the world-class pediatric medical facility. The Marion and John E. Anderson Building was named in honor of their generous and ongoing support of the hospital. She is a member of the steering committee of the New Hospital Campaign Committee and a member of the Development Advisory Campaign Cabinet and the Saban Research Institute Committee.

UCLA Anderson School of ManagementCelebrating 75 years of "business beyond usual," the UCLA Anderson School of Management is regarded among the leading business schools in the world. UCLA Anderson faculty members are globally renowned for their teaching excellence and research in advancing management thinking. Each year, UCLA Anderson provides a distinctive approach to management education to more than 3,600 students enrolled in its M.B.A., fully-employed M.B.A., executive M.B.A., UCLA-NUS Global Executive M.B.A., master of financial engineering, doctoral and executive education programs. Combining highly selective admissions, varied and innovative learning programs, and a worldwide network of 37,000 alumni, UCLA Anderson develops and prepares global leaders.